Call to speak to our team
Contact our team via email
Mon - Fri: 8:00 - 4:30
We maintain normal hours
Call to speak to our team
Contact our team via email
Mon - Fri: 8:00 - 4:30
We maintain normal hours
The CEFI team comprises a group of highly experienced and dedicated financial experts who are passionate about the growth of financial inclusion in Papua New Guinea. CEFI also reports to a Board of Directors, which includes an elite field of key stakeholders representing government, industry and the Bank of Papua New Guinea.
Ms Elizabeth Genia has nearly four (4) decades experience with the Bank of Papua New Guinea. Much of that time has been in senior level roles across a wide range of the Bank’s responsibilities, including positions as Head of Internal Audit Department and Financial and Administration Department and the leading supervisory role with the Bank’s strategic planning team. More recently Ms Genia held the position of Assistant Governor, Corporate Affairs Group, responsible for the critical functions that support the Bank’s overall operation, including strategy and risk management, human resources, corporate services, information and communication technology, facilities and properties management. Over the course of her career in the Bank, Ms Genia has attained broad business experience in finance, auditing, corporate governance, strategic planning, risk management, administration, policy development, all underpinning her deep knowledge of central banking. As a member of the Bank’s Executive Committee for many years, she has been involved in key decision-making affecting the Bank’s day to day operations as well as future development. Ms Genia, has built a strong reputation both within PNG and internationally as a thought- leader in financial technology as well as gender equity issues. She is a sought-after guest speaker on these topics. Her impressive formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of PNG, a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Queensland, Australia, Graduate Award Certificate in Management and Organisational Change from Australian National University, Canberra and specialised studies sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat in Financial Technology and Innovation at Oxford University, United Kingdom. With a strong commitment to continuous learning and development, Ms Genia is an active member of several professional bodies, including the PNG Business Coalition for Women, for which she held a board position. Other Professional affiliations include: Member PNGID; Member of PNGIA; Member of ILA; Member of PNGHRI; Member of ISACA; Member of AHRI; and Associate Member of AICD. In late January 2023 Ms Elizabeth Genia was appointed to the position of Acting Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea by the PNG National Executive Council.
Mr. Peter Samuel has been seconded by the Bank of PNG to CEFI as the Deputy Executive Director for a period of two years commencing 1st July 2023. Prior to joining the Bank of PNG in 2010, Mr Samuel has over 6 years of auditing experience working with the Auditor General of both PNG and Australia and also with Deloitte Chartered Accountants. In 2010 he joined the Bank and was attached with the Superannuation and Life Insurance Supervision Department for 14 years serving in various capacities from senior Analyst to Unit Manager and Project Manager. Apart from his recent appointment to the position of Deputy Executive Director, Mr Samuel also supports both the Superannuation and Life Insurance review and the Comprehensive Credit Reporting Projects. He has a Masters in Commerce from Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, Diploma in Economic Policy Analysis from the National Research Institute, Port Moresby and is a member of the CPA PNG Chapter and PNG Institute of Directors.
Mr Greg Pawson was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kina in 2018. He joined the Group with an extensive knowledge of the financial services industry in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and the Pacific. Before his appointment, Greg was Regional Head of South Asia Pacific for the Westpac Group and held senior executive roles in retail banking, corporate financial services, financial planning, and funds management. His extensive banking experience includes more than 16 years at Westpac where he had accountability for Westpac’s Country/Institutional, Retail and Commercial banking businesses operating in India, Singapore, Indonesia, PNG and Fiji, and the divestment of Westpac’s retail businesses in the Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. Prior to this role he was Westpac’s General Manager Commercial Banking for three years leading the Australian Commercial banking customer segment with revenue in excess of $1.2 billion and responsible for 1,500 employees. Greg holds a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Institute of Management Adelaide and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ms. Roddie Wada has more than 15 years’ experience in the public sector, mostly with the PNG Department of Treasury in the area of micro-economic policy. Currently the First Assistant Secretary of the Markets Policy Division, she deals with consumer and competition policy, private sector development and other micro/structural reform initiatives. Roddie is on the CEFI Board representing the Department of Treasury, and has also represented the Department on the Boards of CIC, Post PNG, Air Niugini and the Nationwide Microbank. She holds a Masters in Applied Commerce from Melbourne University, Australia.
Mr. George Daniel Kulisi has over 18 years of combined experience in public service, the private sector, and NGOs. He currently serves as the Director for Program Development at the Department for Community Development and Religion. Mr. Kulisi has excelled in senior management roles, spearheading initiatives in telecommunications and ISP operations, and various community development sectors, demonstrating a unique blend of strategic leadership and operational expertise from the combined number of work experiences. He has represented the Department and GoPNG in various domestic, regional and international bilaterals and also championed the internal staff homeownership scheme policy for 2019-2029 as the principal author, along with various internal policies and standard operating procedures for the Department including my past employers in various capacities. Mr. Kulisi has a Master’s degree in Economics and Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (International Relations and Public Policy), both from the University of Papua New Guinea and a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling from Griffith University, Australia. He is also pursuing a Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance at the UPNG.
Mr George Awap is Assistant Governor of the Financial Systems Stability Group, Bank of PNG. Prior to his appointment was manager for Financial Systems Development Department, Manager Banking Supervision Department, Acting Manager Economics Department and Manager for Monetary Policy Unit. He has led many projects including Project Director of the Microfinance Expansion Project and is currently Chairman of the Risk Chair Facility, Co-Chair of the Financial Sector Development Strategy, Chair of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion Budget and Finance Committee and Chair of Inclusive Green Finance Steering and Technical Committees.
Mr Michael Tumbo Kumung is the Deputy Secretary of the Department of National Planning & Monitoring with 20 years’ experience in Public Service. Michael have worked with the Papua New Guinea Internal Revenue Commission and Department of Finance dealing with Development Strategic Planning, Public Policy Formulation, Economic Modelling and Economic Development Analysis and Reporting. He has represented the Department of National Planning as alternate board member and director on PNG Gaming Control Board and National Research Institute board. Michael holds a Master of International Economics & Finance, University of Queensland, Australia
Mr. Saliya J Ranasinghe has more than 25 years’ experience in the microfinance industry, including roles as Finance Manager at Ceylon Oxygen and Chief Executive Officer of SEEDS Sri Lanka. Since 2002, he has been a consultant and Chief Technical Advisor for inclusive finance/microfinance projects with renowned organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, IFC and UN Capital Development Fund in countries across Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Saliya has also conducted postgraduate studies with England’s Canfield School of Technology and has an MBA from the University of Lincoln, England. He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants UK and Fellow Member of the Society of Cost Management Accounts Sri Lanka.
Mr. Tony Westaway is the CEO of MiBank in Papua New Guinea. He is also a Director and Honorary Fellow of the PNG Institute of Banking & Business Management, and is an Executive Member of the Microfinance Pasifika Network. A strong advocate for financial inclusion, Tony initiated the first Bank- led deployment of a mobile wallet in the South Pacific, with ‘MiCash’. Tony holds a MBA from Torrens University and a Master of Leadership in Development Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.
Mr. Paulus Laveil is currently Managing Director and Board Secretary of the PNG Federation of Savings and Loans Society Ltd. He has more than 15 years’ experience with the PNG National Development Bank as an Executive Manager for Lending, Policy and Corporate Services. He is a member of the Microfinance Expansion Project Steering Committee and is on the CEFI Board representing the Savings and Loans Societies in PNG. He holds an MBA from the University of New England, Australia.
Ms. Susil Nelson Kongoi recently joined as Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Banking & Business Management (PNG IBBM) during January 2023. Previously Susil was employed in various senior executive management roles with ExxonMobil PNG, Previous roles include Media & Communications Manager (2020-2022), Public Policy & Issues Manager (2018-2020) and National Content Manager (2015- 2018). She has over 20 years’ experience in the development and professional services sector. Her experiencecovers a wide range of roles including financial auditing & advisory services, strategic business planning,socioeconomic project management, monitoring & evaluation and public policy advocacy. Susil is the Chair of Incentive Fund, an Australian and Papua New Guinean government partnership that supports well-managed organisations to access funding for innovative projects that have a strong development impact for the people of Papua New Guinea. She is also the current VicePresident (International) of the Business Council of PNG, an organisation that represents the private sectorin PNG across all sectors, promoting the importance and role of economic growth, freedom and enterprise. Other directorships include being Chair of the Ginigoada Foundation. An NGO that provides community focused training programs. She is a board member of Pacific Women Lead, one of the largest global commitments to gender equality, and also serves on the Board of the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI). She is also involved with various non-profit organisations. Susil is an active member of the Business and Professional Women's Association (BPW), focusing on building a strong network for women and supporting educational opportunities for women and girls in PNG. Under her leadership introduced fully funded scholarships for women in STEM, and more recently provided an opportunity for the NGO to pilot the PNG LNG Scholarships program. BPW is the only fully nationalised women run NGO that has operated for 41 years to date in Papua New Guinea. Susil has a Bachelor of Commerce from Canterbury University, New Zealand. She also holds a Masters of Business Administration from Divine Word University, Papua New Guinea.
CEFI’s key role is to coordinate, advocate and monitor financial inclusion activities including coordinating stakeholder dialogue towards responsible financial service delivery and service quality, encourage innovation and strengthen financial sector industry development.
Head Office:
Third Floor, Credit Corporation Building, Cuthbertson Street, Port Moresby
Phone: +675 322 5300
Email: info@thecefi.org